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Greetings, history buffs! As we mark August 21st, we're reminded of the intricate tapestry of events and stories from World War II that unfolded on this very day. Dive with us into the pivotal moments, strategic decisions, and personal tales that shaped this date during the turbulent 1940s. Whether you're a seasoned scholar or a new enthusiast, there's a piece of history waiting for you today. Let's uncover it together.
"Hitler's large-scale demands for the Mediterranean meant that...the plans for...an 'Eastern Wall' were overtaken by the increasingly rapid advance of the Red Army" - Lieutenant General Warlimont - (Speaking after the war)
Poland on Her Own
French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier ordered his representatives in Russia to speed up negotiations with the Soviet Union; since Poland would not agree to Soviet troops within its borders, the French representatives were given the authority to accept a miltiary treaty excluding Poland. Soviet representative Kliment Voroshilov noted to the British and the French that if Poland was unwilling to allow Soviet troops to cross its borders, then there was little point for the Soviet Union to be a part of this military alliance. At 2100 hours, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin responded to the request from German leader Adolf Hitler to move the date of the meeting between the respective foreign ministers to 22 or 23 Aug 1939; with the two sides having agreed on a draft of a German-Soviet non-aggression agreement, the radio in Berlin, Germany interrupted a musical program to announce the upcoming signing of such a treaty between the two countries.
Stalin and Ribbentrop shaking hands after the signing of the pact in the Kremlin.
Eliminating Enemies
1940: Joseph Stalin's political enemy Leon Trotsky died of severe brain damage as the result of the previous day's assassination attempt by undercover NKVD agent Ramón Mercader.
Murder scene where Spanish communist Ramon Mercader assassinated Leon Trotsky on 20 August 1940, in Coyoacan, Mexico.
Mistake?
Hitlers ordered that the Russian city of Leningrad was to be besieged, not captured.
Adolf Hitler directed the transfer of units away from the Moscow, Russia area in order to bolster the siege on Leningrad (aiming for the linking up with Finnish forces) and the battles in Ukraine (aiming for the oil fields in the Caucasus region).
German soldiers in front of burning houses and a church, near Leningrad in 1941.
Uprising
A German naval cadet became the first victim of French Resistance, shot in a Metro station in Paris, France. Over 150 Parisians were shot in reprisal.
Pierre Georges
Relief
The first Allied Arictic convoy, codenamed Dervish, set sail from Hvalfjörður, Iceland for Arhangelsk, Russia.
Convoy under attack.
Alligator Creek
The first major assault by Japanese troops on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands by Colonel Kiyonao Ichiki and his 770 men commenced at about 0000 hours with poor intelligence that led him to severely underestimate American strength. At 0130 hours, a wave of 100 Japanese troops rushed across the river, supported by machine guns and mortar fire, only to be mowed down at the line manned by 2,500 Marines. At 0230 hours, another wave of 150 to 200 Japanese rushed again, suffering similar fates. A third wave attacked at 0500 hours, again suffering near 100% casualty rate. At 0700 hours, US 1st Marine Regiment counterattacked supported by light tanks and aircraft, enveloping and destroying the remnants of 2nd Battalion of Japanese 28th Infantry Regiment. The Battle of the Tenaru (Ilu) River ended with the Japanese suffering 740 killed (including Ichiki) and 15 captured; the Americans suffered 44 killed. During the day, men of the 2nd Battalion of the US 5th Regiment arrived at Guadalcanal from Tulagi as reinforcements.
Japanese soldiers, killed while assaulting US Marine positions, lie dead on the sandbar at the mouth of Alligator Creek, Guadalcanal, after the battle on 21 August 1942.
Photo of the Day
F6F-3N Hellcat night fighter of Marine Night Fighter Squadron 534 running up its engine at Orote airfield, Guam, Marianas, Aug 21 1944. Note radome on left wing.
As we conclude today's edition centered around August 21st's wartime events, we're reminded of the profound ripples these moments created in the vast ocean of history. Their lessons serve as timeless reminders of bravery, sacrifice, and the complexities of human conflict. Until our next journey through time, keep the flame of remembrance alive and let history illuminate our path forward..
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Have a great week :)
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